Our family had a tradition of distributing a Christmas wish list on Thanksgiving, to be divvied up among the family. I had 3 brothers and 3 sisters, so each person would have two siblings to buy presents for Christmas. Since Thanksgiving has just passed I decided to create my own Christmas wish list. These presents cannot be bought, but are birds I would like to discover within the boundaries of our neighborhood, additions to our neighborhood bird list. This list currently has over 240 species but there is plenty of opportunity for others to be added for the first time. Anything is possible along the rich habitats along the Tanque Verde. In fact, the hardest task is condensing the possibles down from 60 to a mere 20, which are hoped to be seen in the next 5 months (then I can make my B'day list for the summer). My choices will be based partly on probability based on species information in "Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona (FBSEA notated) and local knowledge. Some will be given extra consideration due to an overwhelming desire to see the species in our neighborhood. So, without further ado, here are my twenty top pics for birds hoped to be seen for the first time in our neighborhood.
1. Common Loon- This rare winter visitant usually shows up on larger lakes (FBSEA). Our big pond is just big enough for this amazing bird with the unforgettable song. It has been on my wish list for a long time now.
2. American Bittern- This winter rarity is attracted to cattail ponds, and I hope this is the year it visits our cattails. I love it's song, which sounds like a slowly dripping faucet into a bucket of water. We have already had Least Bittern as a visitor at the cattails on a few occasions.
3. Northern Goshawk-Northern birds can be seen in the lowlands in winter (FBSEA). Has been seen in the last two years just a few miles away around Agua Caliente Park. Oh how awesome it would be to see this magnificent accipiter, especially and adult.
4. Golden Eagle- can be seen in lowlands and agricultural areas in winter (FBSEA). Has been seen during CBC around Agua Caliente on a few occasions. One Ebird report on 10/12/11 on the woodland road.
5. Mountain Plover- Although not seen in Tucson yet has been seen in fallow agricultural fields (FBSEA).. Most likely too be seen along the fields bordering the woodland road.
6. Bonaparte's Gull- Rare transient and casual winter visitant to ponds and lakes (FBSEA). One has been seen regularly in the past month at Lakeside park.
7. Burrowing Owl- locally can be year round in Tucson but not in northeast Tucson region. Mrs. S found one at our local bank just a quarter mile from our neighborhood Martin Luther King weekend a few years ago.
8. Short-eared Owl- has been seen at Sweetwater Wetlands and our fields and open space would be appropriate habitat. It would be a great find and harriers, which use same habitat, are seen occasionally.
9. Magnificent Hummingbird- rare visitant to lowland feeders in winter. They can prefer feeders hung high so I may try this tactic this winter.
10. Acorn Woodpecker- After my possible sighting last week this species would be a great addition. One was also seen a a Udall Park a couple years ago, just a mile from our neighborhood.
11. Hairy Woodpecker-though probably a long shot the Hairy Woodpecker ranges lower in winter. I never thought Arizona Woodpecker would be on our list but one showed up in 2009.
12. Horned Lark- "Common resident in grasslands and fallow agricultural fields, often abundant transient and winger resident..."(FBSEA quote). This bird has been seen in areas south, west, and east. The fields on the woodland road has probably had them but I have not found yet.
13. Bridled Titmouse- Seen at loop road a couple winters. could show up in rich riparian areas in neighborhood, especially in winter.
14. Mountain Bluebird- can be numerous in areas just east of neighborhood. I had it on my list but removed it since it was an old sight record and I would rather have it documented with pics.
15. Rufous-backed Robin-fall and winter visitant (FBSEA). One was seen a 49'ers community one year. Our riparian habitat would be conducive for this species.
16. Black and White Warbler- I keep hoping for this bird in our neighborhood yet it always seems to be seen east of us at Wentworth Road and, lately, a few miles down at the loop road. Most likely places to look are at cattail pond, but could be anywhere.
17. Northern Parula- based on two birds at the loop road and one last year at nearby Ft Lowell Park this could be the year for this beautiful warbler. Probably best to check mesquites along wash, looking for warblers foraging higher up.
18. Fox Sparrow- could show up anywhere in winter, either in dense thickets or at feeders. I found one at the loop road during a Christmas bird count a couple years ago (red form).
19. Golden-crowned Sparrow- even though this is a tough year on sparrows and habitat is lacking, I hope to see this bird in with White-crowned Sparrows this year. It is a winter visitant in brushy habitats (FBSEA).
20. Eastern Meadowlark- this bird is so difficult to tell from its cousin, the Western Meadowlark, that I would have to have definitive pics or hear its distinctive "spring of the year," call. It is uncommon in winter away from its breeding areas (south and east of Tucson), typically found in agricultural fields and grassy areas (the woodland road) ((FBSEA).
21. Chestnut-sided Warbler- this is my wildcard pic-and makes my list a lucky 21 wishes. This warbler has been seen at Sweetwater, and I would hope to expect it at the cattail pond, the most favored spot for any vagrant warbler, actually. It is a casual transient and winter visitant to riparian woodland (FBSEA). It has been seen at Sweetwater Wetlands and nearby Sabino Canyon.
So here is my wish list. There were so many others I wanted to add, and if I started over the list could be completely different. In fact, just warblers could take up 20 spaces, and sandpipers another 20. Our diverse habitats in the neighborhood (fields, riparian, ponds, lake, cattails, pecan groves, cottonwoods) creates possibilities for almost any visitor to find a niche. Wish me luck on my Christmas wishes! Thank you for appreciating our current, and future neighborhood wildlife!
Ps. Hope to have some pics to fill in next to these birds once seen!
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